The Cleveland Indians Purchase Larry Doby's Contract from the Newark Eagles

On July 3, 1947, Cleveland Indians owner Bill Veeck finalized the purchase of Larry Doby's contract from the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League, setting the stage for the integration of the American League. Doby would become the second Black player in modern Major League Baseball, following Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers eleven weeks earlier, and the first in the American League.

Newark Eagles owner Effa Manley called Doby in the early morning hours to deliver the news. She woke the 22-year-old second baseman and told him to report to the Indians in Chicago. Veeck paid Manley $10,000 upfront for Doby's contract, with an additional $5,000 due if Doby remained with the Indians for at least 30 days. Unlike Branch Rickey's long preparation of Robinson in the minor leagues, Veeck moved Doby directly from the Negro Leagues to the majors without any minor league seasoning.

Two days later, on July 5, Doby signed his contract at Comiskey Park and entered a game against the Chicago White Sox as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. He struck out, but the barrier had fallen. When Doby walked into the Cleveland clubhouse for the first time, some teammates refused to shake his hand. Manager Lou Boudreau moved him from second base to center field and stuck with him through a difficult first half-season in which Doby hit just .156 in 29 games.

The following year told a different story. In 1948, Doby hit .301 with 14 home runs and was the offensive star of Cleveland's World Series victory over the Boston Braves. He went on to make seven All-Star teams and lead the American League in home runs twice, finishing his career with 253 home runs and a .283 batting average over 13 seasons.

The contract purchase on July 3 was the quiet beginning of a transformation that reshaped the American League. Doby's path was lonelier and less publicized than Robinson's, but the courage it required was the same.